The Baroque art movement originated in the 17th-18th centuries, emphasizing motion, drama, and emotion over Renaissance ideals. Religious Baroque art aimed to reinforce Catholic traditions through depictions of miracles and martyrdom during the Counter-Reformation. Notable artists included Bernini, Caravaggio, and Velázquez. Their works featured complex compositions, dynamic curves, and realistic emotion to serve religious and political propaganda for the Catholic church and absolute monarchies.

1. Baroque art
3º ESO History

2. The baroque features
• Artistic and cultural movement. (17th – 18th)
• Aesthetic values base on:
• Motion and complexity: curve and convex shapes
• Shapes created through light and colour
• Preference for realism, emotion and move instead of the idealisation of
renaissance.
• Drama and symbolism
Bernini: “Beata Ludovica Albertoni”

3. Caravaggio: “The entombment of Christ”
17th century
Van der Weyden: The descent of Christ.
15th century

4. Religious propaganda
• Historical context of Counter-
Reformation
• Protestants don’t venerate icons,
don’t accept all the sacraments,
don’t accept the role of Saint
Mary as a mother of God.
• Catholic church reinforce their
traditions:
• Depiction of miracles
• Mystic ecstasy
• Martyrs
• Churches extravagantly decorated,
divine objects surrounded by
grandeur and splendour.
Santa Maria de Los Arcos
(Navarra)
Bernini: “The ecstasy
of Saint Theresa”

5. Caravggio: The beheading of Saint John
Baptist.
José Ribera: “The martyr Saint
Bartholomeu”

6. Andrea Pozzo: Frescoes of the church of Saint Ignazio (Rome)

7. Giovanni Battista Gaulli. Frescoes of Gesú church. (Rome)

8. Art serving power
• Was the art of the Absolute Monarchies:
• Depictions of the magnificence and absolute power of the monarchs.
• Monumental architecture: Elegant palaces as symbol of royal power.
• In the Protestant Europe art served the rich bourgeoisie:
• Merchants began commissioning works of art.
• Works of art reflected every day life: Portraits, domestic settings, flowers…

9. Vermeer: “The milkmaid”
Dutch baroque.
Oil-on-canvas
Scene of everyday life, high detail. Interior.

10. Diego Velázquez: “The Prince Baltasar
Carlos”
Oil-on-canvas.
Depiction of the power of the absolute
monarchy

11. Jacint Rigaud: Portrait of Louis XIV

14. The Flemish school: Rubens
Rubens: “The three graces”

15. Rubens: “The judgement of Paris”

16. Rubens: “The banquet of Tereo”

17. Architecture and sculpture
• Sense of movement: curved cornices, broken pediments, elliptical and
oval shapes into floor designs.
Borromini: San Carlo alle Quattro
Fontane

18. • Interiors: Effects of light and shade, elaborately decorated , Solomonic
columns and impressive domes.
Bernini: Baldachin of Saint Peter
(Rome)

19. • Rome was the capital of Baroque style due to the architects Bernini
and Borromini
• In Paris huge palaces were built such as Versailles, designed by Le
Vau, Mansart and Le Notre.

20. Sculpture
• Movement and naturalism
• Used curved lines, numerous
folds of clothing make the
sculptures more dynamic
• Marble and bronze most
popular materials
• Favourite scenes:
mythological and religious
• Most recognised artists:
Bernin, Giardon or Pietro
Tacca.
Bernini: Kidnapping of Persephone

22. Bernini: “The fountain of the four rivers” Piazza Navona (Rome)

23. Bernini: Apollo and Daphne

24. Pietro Tacca: “Philip IV on horseback”

25. Girardon: Apollo Served by nimphs

26. Architecture and sculpture in Spain
• Art commissioned by church, nobles and general public
• 18th century period of splendour in the Spanish
baroque
• Sculpture: polychrome wood, focused on religious
subjects
• Extreme realism: highlighting dramatic expressions,
emaciated faces, pain and suffering
• Main sculptors: Gregorio Fernández, Pedro de Mena,
J.Martínez Montañes, Alonso Cano, J. de Churriguera,
Francisco Salzillo.
Pedro de Mena: Magdalena
penitente.
Gregorio Fernández: Cristo yacente

28. Salzillo: The fall
Alonso Cano: San
Diego de Alcalá.

29. Gregorio Fernández: Christ tide to the column

30. José de Churriguera: San Esteban Altarpiece

31. • Architecture:
• Spanish baroque had more regular structures
• Opulent and splendid façades were added in old buildings
• New convents and churches were built
• Many existing cathedrals renovated
Cathedral of Saint Mary (Murcia)

32. Casas Novoa: Obradoiro façade

34. Spanish painting
• Contrast between the decline of the
empire (Politics and economy) and
the emergence of art and literature
(Spanish Golden Age)
• Themes: Religious, still lifes,
portraits, scenes of everyday life.
• Authors:
• 17th century 1st half: Velázquez,
Zurbarán, Alonso Cano, José de Ribera
• 17th Century 2nd half: Influenced by two
schools:
• Seville: Murillo, Juan Valdés Leal
• Madrid: Claudio Coello, Juan Carreño de
Miranda
Zurbarán: Dead nature
Murilo: Two
Women at a
window

35. Diego Velázquez
• Was born in Seville (1599 -
1660)
• Disciple of Francisco Pacheco
• At the age of 24 was
commissioned by the Count-
Duke of Olivares
• Court painter of Phillip IV
• Worked in all genres:
• Mythology, religion, portrait,
landscapes…

36. Diego Velázquez
• Technique characterised
by:
• Masterful use of light
and aerial perspective
• Complex compositions:
different planes and
sources of lights
• Realism of the scenes,
humanises the figures

37. The waterseller of Seville
Buffon Primo

38. Diego Velázquez: “The surrender of Breda”

39. Zurbarán
• Was born in Extremadura (1598 - 1664)
• Influenced by Caravaggio’s tenebrism
• Famous for religious paintings and “Still lives”
San Hugo en el refrectorio de los Cartujos
Still life with vessels

40. Murillo
• Was born in Seville (1617 - 1682)
• Represented reality in a tender
and idealised light
• Themes: Religious scenes
(Inmaculadas), scenes of
everyday life (Pícaros)
Beggar boy (Flea catcher)

41. Ribera
• Was born in Xátiva (1591 – 1652)
• Worked as a painter in Italy, nicknamed as “Spagnoletto”
• Influenced by Caravaggio and the crude drama of Spanish baroque
• Preference for religious themes.
Ticio
The martyrdom of Saint Phillip

42. The bearded woman The clubfoot boy